APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in the Brownsville Area of Cameron County, Texas

Subject: APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in the Brownsville Area of Cameron County, Texas

To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

Effective April 14, 2018, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in a residential area of Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area.

On April 14, APHIS confirmed a Mexfly larva in the Brownsville area of Texas. In cooperation with Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), APHIS is responding to this confirmed detection with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 91 square miles of non-commercial acres in Cameron County. APHIS is working with TDA to respond to this detection following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

The establishment of this quarantine area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current federal fruit fly quarantine areas: